4 local post offices included in USPS cost-saving study list

Three post offices in Mathews and one in Gloucester are on the U.S. Postal Service list of some 3,700 nationwide that could face closure as a result of a cost-saving study.

Grimstead, New Point and Onemo in Mathews and Schley in Gloucester have been included in the study designed to "optimize" the government agency’s retail network, USPS spokesperson Sue Brennan announced Tuesday.

A study will begin soon of 3,653 post office retail facilities throughout the country, Brennan said, to determine customer needs. Among others under study in the region are Merry Point, Sharps and Morattico on the Northern Neck, two offices in Hampton, one in Newport News, and six in Richmond. In all, the list includes approximately 100 post offices throughout Virginia in the study.

The Postal Service has already launched what Brennan termed a "replacement model," with many services now offered at grocery and convenience stores at hours that might be more convenient for customers.

Michele Martel, district communications director for the Postal Service in Central Virginia, said that no individual post office has yet been targeted definitely to close. That will be determined following an in-house study that will begin soon and is expected to be completed by December.